so who lives in the most rust prone part of the usa

[ktmmark]

Was wondering how well the kj holds up against other cars for corrosion and where the kj suffers .would give us a heads up where to ad protection and extra cleaning .
Here in the uk salt has attacked the rockers (blistering) surface rust behind the rear plastic arch liners and rust on the bottom of the doors on the inside pushing the sealer away.rest of the car is fine even took the high level brake light out as seen it mentioned on here .my jeep is a 2004 .

 

[seabass1858]

I would say rockers and the bottom of the doors would be the most rusty places on my kj. Some people say rear control arm rust issues but I never did,

 

[ktmmark]

sounds like the uk and us where they salt are about the same,love this jeep so going the extra mile to help it against rust

 

[HoosierJeeper]

No rust on my 05...live up north in Wisconsin. My Jeep spent the first 6 years of its life in FL (no salt there) and the last 3 here. Of ones I've seen around town they actually seem pretty rust free, even 02s. You do see a few rusty ones, not many but from the ones I've seen, doors (rust prone area on anything), haven't seen too many rusted rocker panels to be honest and the 3rd brake light (most common area on a KJ). I once saw one at the grocery store with the owner loading it, and I noticed it had rust on the welds/seams under the rear flipper glass. It was an 02 judging by the 4x4 badges on the sides.

 

[Dave]

I am in the Northeast part of the US where they use a lot of road salt in the winter. The salt shows up good on the black on mine. As soon as I can after the snow is off the roads I pressure spray it as good as I can, especially underneith. Then a couple of days later it is usually white again so it gets sprayed again.

Dave

 

[Atrus]

They salt heavily in Detroit...my KJ has fared well.

On the lower doorskin seam inside the front doors I am just starting to get some surface rust, and I also see it on the rear seam on the hood skin. Can't see any of it unless you open the doors/hood.

Otherwise, I was actually VERY impressed with the undercarriage and how rust-free it is after 90k+ miles and 6 MI winters. I am not the best about keeping the exterior very clean, and I am not one of the guys who sprays down the undercarriage. Hell, I've never even waxed my KJ!

 

[JeepJeepster]

Certainly rocker panels and lower parts of doors. Mine has been washed more often than regularly and my passenger side rocker is still bubbling up. Drivers side lower door is rusting too. Ohh and the area above the hatch glass and under the 3rd brake light. All of that will rust too.

Underside looks good though.

 

[ktmmark]

They do seem to holding up well,hope i dont see one on hack n pack on utube ha ha
the amount fo rust some of the American cars have is unbelievable as it can't get that bad here due to strict mot (inspection) law's every 12 months

 

[yellocoyote]

Keeping them as clean as possible in the salt-heavy months tends to be key. I know a lot of people who don't wash their vehicles in the winter simply because it's "cold" outside. It still needs to be done. In the winter, regardless of weather, mine is washed 1-2/week. Certainly more than I wash it in the summer months.

 

[CzarKJ]

Rust on mine... Started in VT went to PA Then to MA. They can be pretty harsh with the chemicals especially when it hasn't even snowed yet. Has rust on drivers side rocker, around third taillight and the underside was pretty bad. Rear control arm looks terrible but its still solid. I wire brushed (with a drill and by hand) and then rustoleum undercoated the entire thing. Just have to do the front control arms and front sway bar. But that's not until next summer haha. I enjoy washing it regardless of temperature. Its like a clean slate to get dirty again!

 

[Okura_hubby]

I ordered my 06' through the military purchase program... Took ownership in Oahu, Hawaii.. Took it via Super Ferry to Maui. Then had it shipped to North Carolina.. While I was at North Carolina (shortly after I got there) I noticed a rust spot on the door high up right on the bend of the window frame. I should have went and vented to the local dealer but.. Not their problem.. Anyway.. I sanded down that spot till I saw shinny metal, and litterly primmed it with a Q-tip.. Then touched it up with touch up with a Q-tip. It came out well for the ghetto procedure.. It sat in a covered car port in Hawaii and exposed to the weather in North Carolina.. Now its in Oklahoma.. And in a garage.. I had it Zeibart'd for tropical environments when I ordered it. And when I was working on my 63' Falcon painting parts with POR-15. I had a half a can left so I went nuts under the jeep, panting anything that wasnt panted. Even repainted some parts.. Might have the only Liberty with panted A-Arms haha.. But other than that one rust spot my Jeep has been very good.. It just seems to eat batteries.. 1 factory and 1 Optima..

 

[TheBlueKJ]

Might have the only Liberty with panted A-Arms haha..

Definitely not the only one

 

[tjkj2002]

Might have the only Liberty with panted A-Arms haha.. But other than that one rust spot my Jeep has been very good.. It just seems to eat batteries.. 1 factory and 1 Optima..

Yeah not the 1st,painted mine way back in '06.

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Your lucky to get 1-2 years max out of a optima battery these days.

 

[Ohio-white-kj]

'05 with 90K miles - was a toad and sure it has more rolling miles.

Got mine 2nd hand, was an Ohio to Florida RV Toad.... Very little rust in the usual areas. I've added Loctite rust converter, or whatever it's now called along most weld seams. White so any spot will show.

It does have some pretty bad rust showing around the radiator mount, that large tube like surround. I'll probably need to replace it sometime. Anyone had one out and can comment on how hard? No idea why it's so bad when the rust looks fine.

 

[martin_metal_88]

and what about you dear canadian friend? over here in quebec you MUST rustproof your car once a year with a good rustproofing product or it is the end. not so long ago almost every vehicle on the road were rusty at some point, nowaday with factory rustproofing or 10 year rustproofing from independant dealer you see a lot more of it.
But I still have some spot on my KJ.
Mainly the hinges, Liftgate hinges also, around the brake light and the rear washer nozzle, also the swing door lock plate is rusted.
I found nothing on the frame itself or engine support, they are all good

 

[Luke]

Might have the only Liberty with panted A-Arms haha..

I blacked mine out immediately